Visual stimulus management

ABSTRACT

Visual stimuli provided by surfaces of an object are selected based on anticipated viewing angles and activities associated with the viewing angles. Such surfaces can be selected based on identification and observation of significant events in a selected activity. Object zones so identified can be provided with functional ornamentation to enhance performance of one or more activities. Functional ornamentation can be based on gray level contrast, color contrast, or other visual characteristics. Dynamic functional ornamentation in which visual characteristics are a function of ornamentation motion, placement, distortion, of viewing angle can be used. In some examples, almost periodic patterns can be used, and the almost periodic patterns defined with a plurality of tiles.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure pertains to methods of managing visual characteristics ofteam athletic apparel based on activity-specific situations.

BACKGROUND

Visual stimuli produced by apparel and other articles associated withspecific activities are generally configured to provide overallvisibility, to distinguish one team or group from another (often basedon traditional team or group colors), or to provide a pleasingappearance. Frequently the appearance of apparel and other articles islargely dictated by such considerations in combination withconsiderations of comfort, fit, and safety. For example, sports uniformcolors are frequently selected based on traditional team colors such asschool or club colors, and have visual characteristics that arecustomized to provide an appearance that is stylish and up to date.Otherwise, uniform selection is based primarily on player comfort andsafety. Many team uniforms are provided in both “home” and “away”versions so that opposing teams having the same team or club colors canbe distinguished.

While such traditional uniforms permit identification of home and awayteams, and display team colors, the appearance of traditional uniformsprovides little if any performance advantage. Visual stimuli provided bysuch uniforms are largely unrelated to participant performance. As such,traditional apparel can provide comfort and safety, but little else.Accordingly, methods of selecting and managing activity-specific visualstimuli, and apparel and other items and apparatus associated with anactivity configured based on such methods are needed.

SUMMARY

According to representative examples, articles comprise anactivity-specific zone having functional ornamentation situated in theactivity-specific zone. In some examples, the functional ornamentationis defined based on luminance contrast or color contrast. If additionalexamples, the article is an article of team sports apparel and theactivity specific zone is associated with a side of the article in anas-worn position. In other representative examples, the functionalornamentation is dynamic functional ornamentation that can include analmost periodic pattern, an interrupted periodic pattern, or a spatiallychirped pattern that is defined by a plurality of pattern segmentssecured to the article.

Team uniform components comprise a zone that includes dynamicornamentation. In some examples, the zone is an activity-specific zone.In additional examples, the dynamic ornamentation is defined by aplurality of tiles that can be specularly reflective or iridescent. Inrepresentative examples, the plurality of tiles is situated on arelatively dark background. In further examples, the dynamicornamentation includes an almost periodic pattern defined by a pluralityof tiles arranged in a spatially chirped pattern or an interruptedperiodic pattern. In some examples, the team uniform component is anarticle of apparel such as a jersey, shorts, pants, skirt, or socks.

Representative methods comprise identifying an activity-specific visualzone, and assigning a visual characteristic to a surface associated withthe activity-specific visual zone. In some examples, at least one commonangle of view is determined, wherein the activity specific visual zoneis associated with the at least one common angle of view. In typicalexamples, the activity-specific visual zone is associated with aselected team sport. In additional examples, the visual characteristicassigned to the activity-specific visual zone is associated with dynamicfunctional ornamentation, and can include an almost periodic pattern.

These and other features and advantages are set forth below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a representative method of managing visualstimuli.

FIG. 2 is diagram illustrating a distribution of measured viewing anglesof passes directed to teammates in a soccer match.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a representative division of a player'sbody into body segment zones associated with typical distances fromwhich the zone is viewed and relative body segment speed within the bodysegment zones.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate body zones associated with visual stimuli forsoccer.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate representative almost periodic patterns.

FIGS. 6A-6G illustrate uniforms that are provided with representativevisual stimulus patterns (functional ornamentation) in activity-specificzones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed methods and apparatus should not be construed as limitingin any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward novel andnon-obvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments,alone and in various combinations and subcombinations with one another.Moreover, the methods and apparatus are not limited to any specificaspect or feature, or combinations thereof, nor do the disclosed methodsand apparatus require that any one or more specific advantages bepresent or problems be solved.

Although the operations and function of some of the disclosed methodsand apparatus are described in a particular, sequential order forconvenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner ofdescription encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering isrequired by specific language set forth below. For example, operationsdescribed sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performedconcurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figuresmay not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods andapparatus can be used in conjunction with other methods and apparatus.Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like “determine” and“evaluate” to describe the disclosed methods. These terms are high-levelabstractions of the actual operations that are performed. The actualoperations that correspond to these terms will vary depending on theparticular implementation and are readily discernible by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

For purposes of this disclosure, the word “including” has the same broadmeaning as the word “comprising.” In addition, words such as “a” and“an,” unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, include the plural aswell as the singular. Thus, for example, the requirement of “a feature”is satisfied where one or more of these features are present. Inaddition, the term “or” includes the conjunctive, the disjunctive andboth (a or b thus includes either a or b, as well as a and b).

Some specific examples of visual stimulus management methods andapplications thereof are described with respect to a particularactivity—soccer. This activity is selected as an example because of itsworldwide appeal and familiarity. The methods and applications describedherein are applicable to other team sports such as basketball, baseball,soccer, lacrosse, hockey, rugby, and football. The described methods andapplications are also applicable to activities other than sports,including other commercial and recreational activities. Examples ofuniforms and other articles of clothing are described, but other itemscan be configured in a similar manner.

Assignment of a specific visual stimulus to a particular participantzone can be associated with improved perception, and thus improveddecision making by a participant's teammate. For example, a visualstimulus can be selected to increase the accuracy of passes betweenteammates. In some typical examples, visual stimuli configured forperipheral vision are preferred. Various kinds of visual stimuli can beused. For central vision or peripheral vision, luminance contrast andobject detail can be used to provide an appropriate visual stimulus. Forcentral vision perception, color characteristics (such as hue orsaturation) can be used. A just noticeable color difference is typicallyassociated with dominant wavelength differences of between about 2 nm to4 nm, but depends on spectral region. Differences in luminance can alsobe used, with differences of 1-1.5% typically observable for eithercentral or peripheral vision. For central vision, details as small asabout 1 arcmin are legible, while details as small as about 0.5 arcseccan be detected. For peripheral vision, details as small as about 10arcmin are legible, while details as small as about 0.5 arcsec can bedetected. Angular spacings of about 0.6 arcmin or greater permit objectsto be perceived as separate objects in either central or peripheralvision. Misalignments of objects can be detected that are as small asabout 3-5 arcsec (“hyperacuity”). Peripheral vision can detect flickerat rates as high as about 80 Hz-100 Hz, while central vision can detectflicker at rates less than about 20 Hz. In an example, visual stimulifor central vision, ranked in order from most to least sensitive, arelateral motion, luminance contrast, color contrast, and flicker. Forperipheral vision, a similar ranking is lateral motion, flicker,luminance contrast, and color contrast. Visual factors are generallyinterdependent, and can depend on observer adaptation or recent exposureof the observer to a bright object. Visual stimuli can also be affectedby environmental conditions such as stadium lighting, hazy or foggyweather, or direct sunlight. Backgrounds such as grass, stadium seating,spectator apparel can also be significant.

An example visual stimulus management method is illustrated in FIG. 1.For a selected activity, a set of activities, or a selected situation inone or more activities, a distribution of common angles of view areidentified in a step 100. For example, common angles of view experiencedby a passer and a pass receiver in a soccer match can be identified.Such a distribution provides a quantitative assessment of what portionsof teammates are visible to each other while passing. The identificationof viewing angles can be based on one or more matches or practices usinga diverse player group, or using a player group of a particular skilllevel and experience. For example, common angles of view can bedifferent for relatively inexperienced youth league players and premierleague professionals. Particular situations other than routine passingcan be selected for common view angle identification, and common viewangles can differ for different locations on a soccer pitch as well asfor different player positions. Typically, common angles of view areactivity specific, and observations of an activity are used to establishactivity-specific common view angles.

In an example, numbers of “through balls” in an attacking third of asoccer pitch were observed and tabulated for premiership footballmatches. (Through balls are defined as passes that penetrate the defenseand allow attacking forwards a scoring opportunity.) In such atabulation, through balls were noted as a function of pass angle (i.e.,angle with respect to the passer's line of sight at the time of thepass), pass distance (distance from passer to intended receiver), andreceiver body position. For convenient analysis, pass angles were notedas in a range of 0-20 degrees, 20-40 degrees, or greater than 40degrees. Pass distances were recorded in ranges of 0-5 m, 5-10 m, 10-15m, and 15-20 m. Receiver body position was recorded as front (facing thepasser), side, or back. In the observed matches, as pass distanceincreased, passers tended to play more through balls to receivers inwide positions (i.e., at larger angles from the passer's line of sight).The greatest number of through balls was played when the receiver waspositioned side-on to the passer. The lowest number of through balls wasplayed to the backs of receiving players. For smaller pass distances,fewer through balls were played at wider pass angles.

A depiction of common view angles is shown in FIG. 2, based onobservations of about twenty premier league soccer matches.Approximately 56% of all forward passes were made while viewing a front202 of a pass receiver. About 16% and 18% were made while viewing aright front side 204 and a left front side 206, respectively. About 1%were made viewing a player back 212, and 5% and 4%, respectively, weremade viewing a right back side 208 and a left back side 210,respectively. To assist in the most commonly encountered passingsituations, visual treatments can be applied to fronts and/or sides ofplayer uniforms. For example, if passing to player sides is to beimproved, corresponding front and/or side regions of player uniforms canbe visually enhanced.

While common views can be recorded based on activity observation, andvisual stimuli associated with these views can be provided by, forexample, coloring or otherwise treating player uniform portions,additional considerations can improve the effectiveness of treatingplayer uniform portions in this way. With reference to FIG. 3, for aparticular activity (soccer), body zones 302, 304, 306 can be associatedwith corresponding motion speeds and viewing distances. For example, thebody zone 302 is commonly viewed from a considerable distance, andtypical player movements associated with this body zone are relativelyslow. Such a characterization of this body zone can differ greatly indifferent activities. Because most use of the arms is forbidden insoccer, arm movements tend to be slow and provide only generallyindicators of player activity. The body zone 304 is associated withintermediate viewing distances, and fast, large scale player movements.For example, a player dribbling at midfield can be moving rapidly tocover a large distance to approach an opponent's goal. The body zone 306can be associated with fast movements viewed at near distances. Insoccer, this body zone is particularly important as passing is based onplayer movements in this zone. Sports or other activities in whichhand/arm motions are significant can be associated with different zonedivisions and different zone characterizations. Adjacent body portionsof a player can be associated with different zones. For example,portions of a player's arms can be assigned to different zones based onanticipated types of motion.

Based on body segment zones and characterizations, activity-significantportions of selected body zones can be treated to provide visualcharacteristics such as zone-specific enhanced visibility. Referringagain to FIG. 1, in a step 104, body zones and player functions arecorrelated. In a step 106, surfaces are selected for visual managementbased on, for example, as noted above, a frequency with which thesurfaces are encountered, an estimated importance of the surface duringthe activity, or likely benefit to be obtained by managing visualstimuli on such surfaces. In a step 108, visual stimuli provided by theselected surfaces are managed to enhance or otherwise configure visualstimuli produced by the surface. In some cases, additional testing isperformed in a step 110 to confirm performance enhancement.

Visual stimuli provided by surfaces of team uniforms can be managedusing texture, color, gray level, patterning, surface reflectivity,fluorescence, iridescence, or other visually observable surfaceproperties. To preserve traditional uniform appearance, one or morecolor parameters such as hue, saturation, and value associated with aselected surface portion can be configured to provide, for example, aselected contrast, while remaining color parameters are selected so thatthe uniform retains a traditional appearance. For example, a relativelydark surface portion can be configured to contrast with a relativelylight surface portion while other color parameters are selected inaccordance with traditional team colors, logos, and designs. For visualstimuli targeting peripheral vision, gray values can be used that canprovide an intended stimulus in a selected zone while not detractingfrom a traditional team colors or team appearance.

In a representative example, visual stimuli are provided to selectedzones by one or more individual tiles of a heat transferable materialarranged in a mosaic layout. Highly reflective tiles (such as tileshaving a chrome appearance) typically having areas greater than about 1cm² can be applied, while tinted chrome, pearl, or crystal colored tilestypically having areas of about 2.5-3.0 cm² can be applied. Such tilescan be split into segments as needed to facilitate garment movement orto catch and/or reflect light. Tiles are typically separated by lessthan about 0.5 cm, and can have various shapes such as square,rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or other regular orirregular shapes. Tile edges can be linear, curved, dentate, smooth,rough, or other configurations. Such tiles are typically applied to abackground portion of a garment in a selected zone of the garment, andcan be configured (with the background portion) to provide a selectedluminance contrast rather than a color contrast. Background luminanceand texture are preferably “opposite” that of the tiles. Somerepresentative combinations of tiles and backgrounds are summarized inthe following table. Background Tiles (color and/or texture) Silverpearl or chrome Dark (black), matt texture Silver pearl or chrome WhiteLight tint Dark

While tiles can be applied in regular or periodic patterns, irregular,almost-periodic, or chirped patterns can provide a superior visualstimulus. Irregular patterns can be based on an approximately randomarrangement of tiles of randomly varying areas. Almost-periodic patternscan have a spatially varying placement frequency. One example can bereferred to as a “chirped” pattern in which pattern pieces are regularlysituated but become progressively smaller and/or closer together in atleast some regions of the pattern. Other almost periodic patternsinclude “interrupted” patterns in which at least some pattern portionsrequired in a periodic placement are omitted or are configureddifferently than other pattern portions.

Visual stimuli can be selected based on either central vision,peripheral vision, or both, but in at least some typical examples,selection based on peripheral vision is preferred. For example, visualstimuli can be based on relative differences in apparent darkness, suchas a pattern of light areas on a dark background or dark area on a lightbackground to provide luminance contrast. For application to soccer, ahigh proportion of passes are played to receivers that are at angles ofabout 20-40° to the passer, and only the receiver's side or front facesthe passer. Therefore, visual markers associated with visual stimuli canbe assigned to jersey chests, sleeves, and front sides as well as sidesof shorts and socks. Alternatively, visual markers can be assigned toone or more of a jersey side, sides of shorts, or sides of socks. Suchmarkers can be applied and selected to aid a passer in rapid location ofan intended pass recipient. Visual markers can be defined in one or morezones of, for example, a jersey, shorts, or both. Such markers can bedefined by additional materials attached to a garment, textured,colored, or patterned portions of a garment, or combinations of suchmarkings. Marker size can be selected based on anticipated or intendedviewing distances so that the marker can be noted during the activity.Some representative marker sizes for various distances are summarized inthe table below. separation zone area (m) (cm²) 5 2.5 10 3.75 15 5.6 207.5

Visual stimulus zone area as a function of passer-receiver separation.

A representative arrangement of zones configured to provide visualstimuli for soccer uniforms is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C that showrear, side, and front views of a soccer player. In the rear view of FIG.4A, zones in which visual stimuli are defined not apparent, as effectivepasses are rarely directed toward a player's back. In FIG. 4B, visualstimuli are defined in zones 401, 403, 405, 407 that can be situated onsides of a uniform jersey, shorts, and socks, respectively. FIG. 4Cshows the zones 401, 403, 405, 407 continuing onto front portions of theuniform. In some examples, visual stimuli are defined in one, two,three, or all of these zones. Superior results are generally obtainedwith zones defined at least on sides of a jersey, shorts and socks.Defining zones on jersey sleeves and fronts can provide additionalperformance improvement, but such zones can be omitted.

Zone areas listed in the above table generally provide a responseaccuracy of about 20% when applied to jersey (sides, sleeves, chest),shorts, and socks, and can produce typical player response times thatare at least as much as 50 ms faster than response times in the absenceof such visual stimuli. When applied only to jersey sides, shorts, andsocks, response accuracy is typically about 13-15% but with inconsistentchanges in player response time.

While visual stimulus management is particularly well suited for teamuniforms, other activities and apparatus that can benefit from visualstimulus management include uniforms for police officers, fire fighters,and military personnel. Portions of apparel for such officers can beselected, and particular visual characteristics assigned to the selectedportions in order to, for example, enhance officer visibility in typicalemergency situations while maintaining a uniform, professionalappearance. Appearance of military uniforms can also be managed toenhance visibility to facilitate unit communication. Some surfaces ofapparel portions can be dedicated to visual enhancement while otherportions are provided with, for example, conventional camouflage. Forexample, soldier locations and movements should be communicated toallies, while concealed from enemies.

One or more components of a team uniform such as, for example, jerseys,shorts, pants, helmets, shoes, shin guards, gloves, skirts, or sock canbe provided with visually managed surfaces. Alternatively, patterns orother visual stimuli can be applied directly to a player's body.Apparatus associated with sports and other activities can also includevisually managed surfaces. In some examples, sporting equipment such ashockey or lacrosse sticks can include visually managed surfaces. Visualmanagement methods can permit enhanced visibility objects to beotherwise configured for aesthetic or other reasons. Visibility ofselected object portions can be enhanced for communication withteammates but other selected portions treated conventionally.

Activity-specific surfaces can be visually managed based on luminancecontrast provided with black and white (or with colors having arelatively high luminance contrast such as blue and yellow). However,superior results can be obtained using variable visual treatments thatprovide visual appearances that vary in response to player movement,motion of a portion of the visual treatment, or changes in position orangle from which the visual treatment is viewed. Examples of such visualtreatments include deformable reflective surfaces, iridescent materialsand surfaces, fringes, tassels, quasi-periodic patterns, patterns basedon relative displacements between periodic or regular patterns (e.g.,Moire patterns), sets of irregularly spaced or variably energized lightemitters, lenticular surfaces, or the like. Such visual treatments canbe associated with apparent movement. For example, iridescent surfacescan have spectral reflectivities that vary as a function of viewingangle, and enhance motion perception. Using such patterns on an athleticjersey permits slight changes in jersey shape or position to producesubstantial visual stimuli in comparison with, for example, surfacesthat are dyed or ornamented with a set of dyed segments. Forconvenience, such visual treatments are referred to herein as dynamicfunctional ornamentation.

Representative quasi-periodic patterns suitable for application toactivity specific zones are illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B. Referring toFIG. 5A, a quasi-periodic pattern 502 includes a series of rectangularregions 504 associated with a relatively high luminance value and aseries of rectangular regions 506 associated with a relatively lowluminance value. The low luminance value regions 506 are situated toapproximately correspond to locations at which additional high luminancevalue regions would appear if the pattern 502 were strictly periodic.The regions 506 thus correspond to “missing” high luminance regions.Such missing portions of a periodic pattern can produce a marked visualstimulus. FIG. 5B illustrates an alternative arrangement of highluminance regions and low luminance regions. For convenience, the visualtreatments of FIGS. 5A-5B can be referred to as interrupted periodpatterns.

The patterns of FIGS. 5A-5B are illustrative examples. Typically, lowluminance regions can be substituted at random locations in an otherwiseperiodic arrangement of high luminance regions, but can also beassociated with a different period (repetition frequency) than the highluminance regions. High or low luminance regions can have other shapessuch as elliptical, circular, square, polygonal, or other regular orirregular shapes with a curved perimeter, a perimeter defined bystraight lines, or a combination thereof. High and low luminance valuescan be defined with gray scale values (such as black and white), colors(such as blue and yellow), reflectivity, spectral reflectivity, texture,other visual parameters, or combinations thereof. For example, someregions of a quasi-periodic pattern can be defined in black and whitewhile other regions are defined in one or more sets of contrastingcolors. Color and gray scale regions can be configured to blend eachother, and such blending can be periodic. The examples of FIGS. 5A-5Buse rectangular regions of similar shape and size, but in otherexamples, shape and size of individual regions can vary regularly orirregularly. Rectangular regions can have longer dimensions orientedalong different axis in different portions, or curved regions such aselliptical regions can have different orientations of major axes, andellipticity can vary periodically or otherwise. Quasi-periodic patternscan also be defined with a spatially varying period, so that patternelement spacing varies. A combination of two frequencies can be used toprovide a visual “beat frequency.”

Representative arrangements of activity specific visual zones and visualstimuli patterns provide in the zones are illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6G.Referring to FIG. 6A, a football uniform includes a jersey 600 and pants602 that include activity specific visual zones 601, 603, respectively.The zones 601, 603 include a series of pattern elements such asrepresentative pattern elements 604, 605 situated along an axis thatgenerally extends along a side of the uniform. Visual zones can beprovided on a left side, a right side, or both sides of the uniform. Inthe zones 601, 603, pattern element area decreases from a waist region606 towards player shoulders and player feet. In addition, patternelement shape varies from generally oblong in a horizontal direction asworn at the waist region 606, to generally oblong in a verticaldirection in other portions of the zones 601, 603. A pattern elementsuch as the pattern element 604 can be defined as a single patch appliedto the jersey 600, or can be defined with a series of pattern segmentsor cells. As shown in FIG. 6A, the zones 601, 603 are defined on aplayer side, but zone size and location generally depends on specificgame tasks undertaken by a particular player based on visualcommunication with one or more teammates.

FIG. 6B is another representative example of a football uniform thatincludes activity-specific visual zones 610, 612 situated on a jerseyand pants. Visual stimuli patterns 611, 613 are defined with a pluralityof pattern elements such as representative pattern elements 611, 612that are distributed throughout the zones 610, 612. As shown in FIG. 6B,shapes, shapes, colors, and gray levels of the pattern elements canvary. In some examples, the pattern elements are defined usingreflective materials having a reflectively that varies as a function ofangle so that movement of a pattern element can cause the patternelement to appear darker or lighter.

FIGS. 6C-6E illustrate placement of additional visual stimuli inactivity specific visual zones situated on a rugby jersey and shorts.Various stimulus patterns are applied in the zones. FIG. 6C showspatterns that include a periodic arrangement of lines that extend alonga first direction and bend to extend along a second direction. similarto those of FIGS. 5A-5B. Alternative periodic patterns are shown inFIGS. 6C-6D, with the activity specific visual zones extending to thejersey sleeve.

FIG. 6E illustrate rugby shorts and jersey that are proved with visualstimulus zones in which pattern segments are periodically applied, butselected patterns segments have different luminance values. Typically,arrangements of the selected pattern portions is not strictly periodic,but can be random, periodically interrupted, or with varying frequency(chirped). For example, pattern segments 620, 622 can be relativelylight in appearance, while pattern segments 624, 626 can be relativelydark in appearance. As shown in FIG. 6E, the arrangement of light anddark segments is not strictly periodic, and an arrangement of light anddark segments can be randomly selected.

A representative soccer jersey 650 is illustrated in FIG. 6F. Activityspecific visual zones 652, 654 are defined on portion of the jerseyshoulders and sides. The visual zone 652, 654, also extend to a jerseyfront. Pattern elements of varying size, shape, and orientation areprovided in rows of varying spacings. For example, in a region 656,patterns elements are at least partially situated rows having varyingspacings and orientations, and are of varying size. In a region 658,pattern elements are more randomly placed and sized. Such patternselements can be applied to the jersey, or woven or otherwiseincorporated in the jersey.

Another representative soccer uniform is illustrated in FIG. 6G, andinclude zones 672, 74 that are provided with visual stimulus patterns.As shown in FIG. 6G, patterns are applied to both left and right sidesof jersey and shorts, but in other example, such patterns can be appliedto only one side, and different sides can be selected for the jersey andshorts.

The above examples are representative only, and it will be apparent thatthese examples can be modified in arrangement and detail withoutdeparting form the teaching of the disclosure. Applications of suchmethods and apparatus to particular team sports are described only forconvenience, and such methods and apparatus can be applied to otheractivities. In general, activity-specific zones of apparel or otheritems can be selected, and visual characteristics of the zonesconfigured to provide an intended visual stimulus based on a functionalornamentation. Such ornamentation can be based on luminance contrast,color contrast, or other visual effect or combination of visual effects.In some examples, dynamic functional ornamentation can be applied inwhich ornamentation appearance is based on ornamentation motion,ornamentation distortion, viewing angle, random or distorted periodicplacement of ornamentation segments or other ornamentation components.For convenience, ornamentation associated with interrupted periodicpatterns, chirped periodic patterns, or other deviations fromperiodicity (such as distorted periodic placement) can be used, and suchornamentation can be referred to as “almost periodic” for convenience.Accordingly, the disclosed examples are not to be interpreted aslimiting, and we claim all that is encompassed by the appended claims.

1. An article, comprising: an activity-specific zone; and functionalornamentation situated in the activity-specific zone.
 2. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the functional ornamentation is defined based onluminance contrast.
 3. The article of claim 1, wherein the functionalornamentation is defined based on color contrast.
 4. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the article is an article of team sports apparel. 5.The article of claim 1, wherein the activity specific zone is associatedwith a side of the article in an as-worn position.
 6. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the functional ornamentation is dynamic functionalornamentation.
 7. The article of claim 1, where the functionalornamentation includes an almost periodic pattern.
 8. The article ofclaim 7, wherein the almost periodic pattern is an interrupted periodicpattern.
 9. The article of claim 7, wherein the almost periodic patternis a spatially chirped pattern.
 10. The article of claim 1, wherein thefunctional ornamentation is defined by a plurality of pattern segmentssecured to the article.
 11. A team uniform component, comprising a zonethat includes dynamic ornamentation.
 12. The team uniform component ofclaim 11, wherein the zone is an activity-specific zone.
 13. The teamuniform component of claim 12, wherein the dynamic ornamentation isdefined by a plurality of tiles.
 14. The team uniform component of claim13, wherein the tiles are specularly reflective.
 15. The team uniformcomponent of claim 14, wherein the plurality of tiles is situated on arelatively dark background.
 16. The team uniform component of claim 13,wherein the tiles are iridescent.
 17. The team uniform component ofclaim 11, wherein the dynamic ornamentation includes an almost periodicpattern.
 18. The team uniform component of claim 17, wherein the almostperiodic pattern is defined by a plurality of tiles.
 19. The teamuniform component of claim 17, wherein the almost periodic pattern is aspatially chirped pattern.
 20. The team uniform component of claim 17,wherein the almost periodic pattern is an interrupted periodic pattern.21. The team uniform component of claim 11, wherein the component is anarticle of apparel.
 22. A method, comprising: identifying anactivity-specific visual zone; and assigning a visual characteristic toa surface associated with the activity-specific visual zone.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising determining at least one commonangle of view, wherein the activity specific visual zone is associatedwith the at least one common angle of view.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein the activity-specific visual zone is associated with a selectedteam sport.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the visualcharacteristic assigned to the activity-specific visual zone isassociated with dynamic functional ornamentation.
 26. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the visual characteristic assigned to theactivity-specific visual zone is associated with an almost periodicpattern.